Video: Expansion of Melanesian, Polynesian & Micronesian Cultures

This lesson will explain the emergence and expansion of several of Oceania's earliest cultures. In doing so, it will highlight the Lapita people and their earliest dealings with Asia and Europe.2015-01-31

Jessica has taught junior high history and college seminar courses. She has a master's degree in education.

This lesson will explain the emergence and expansion of several of Oceania's earliest cultures. In doing so, it will highlight the Lapita people and their earliest dealings with Asia and Europe.

The Lapita

Being extremely unscientific, if you asked ten Americans living in the often snow-drenched North where they'd love to go if they had a chance, I'm guessing at least two of them would say 'Hawaii'. After all, it's paradise with sun!

However, if you handed them a ticket marked as an all-expense paid trip to the home of the ancient Lapita, I'm theorizing you'd just get a blank look and a shoulder shrug as the person would have no clue you just gave them their ticket to dreams come true. In other words, although so many of us love the idea of Hawaii, we have very little knowledge of its history. Today, we'll work to remedy this as we discuss the Lapita culture and its history in Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.

For starters, the Lapita are the early inhabitants of Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia. It's believed they migrated from East Asia, specifically Taiwan, thousands of years ago.

Now, notice that I said 'believed' instead of using more concrete, definitive wording. As you might guess, this is simply because we don't have a whole lot of solid historical facts about the Lapita people. Instead, most of what we know of them has been pieced together through the artifacts, specifically the pottery and ceramics, they left behind.

Oceania

In fact, the Lapita are named after an archaeological site in Lapita, New Caledonia, at which some of their artifacts were found. Along with its history as part of Lapita culture, this area is often referred to under the blanket name of Oceania, the islands of Central and South Pacific.

Not very surprising due to their location, the early Lapita seemed to have been excellent navigators and sailors. Going along with this, it's believed they survived mainly as fishermen but they also dabbled in some agriculture.

Division

Working to nail down some dating, it's asserted that around 1000 BC, the Lapita people began to spread throughout the Pacific area. During this spreading of sorts, they also began to divide or consolidate themselves into groups. For instance, around 1000 BC, a group of Lapita settled in Samoa and Tonga, eventually becoming known as Polynesian. A short while later, another group of Lapita settled in Fiji, and later became known as Melanesian. In the same manner, those who settled in the Caroline or Marshall Islands would eventually become Micronesian.

Increased Trade

All three of these new regions saw increased trade with Southeast and mainland Asia during the timeframe of about 1000 BC to 1000 AD. This led to increased technology in the regions as things like canals and massive statues were built. It's even asserted that some man-made islands were formed in Micronesia. Despite this new blossoming, the cultural traditions of Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia remained very much alike. Yes, they had divided geographically but culturally they were still connected to their Lapita roots.

This all changed when the powers of Europe became interested in this expanding area. It's asserted that when the first Europeans arrived in the early 16th century, this marked the beginning of the cultural divide between Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia as each region began to take on the cultural traits of their new European rulers.

With this were born the separate cultures of places like Hawaii, Samoa, or Fiji that most of us, especially those of us who live in the North, would love to visit!

Lesson Summary

The Lapita are the early inhabitants of Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia. They migrated to Oceania from Taiwan thousands of years ago. Oceania denotes the islands of Central and South Pacific.

Much of what we know of this region comes from the pottery and ceramics that the Lapita people left behind. They are named after Lapita, New Caledonia, where some of their pottery was first found.

Around 1000 BC, the Lapita began to divide and consolidate themselves into the regions known today as Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia.

All three of these regions began to increase their trade with Asia yet they still maintained much of their Lapita culture. However, when Europeans began to explore the areas in the early 1600s, the cultures of these three regions became more diverse and divided.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Recognize the regions of the Lapita culture

Describe the spread of the culture moving from one island chain to the next

Summary:

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